Monday Morning Life and Peace

Have you ever read a familiar passage of scripture and suddenly, something just stands out to you, that maybe, you never really noticed before?

I’ve honestly thought to myself, though I know it’s not true, “God, did you just put that there?”

This happened to me just recently as I read my Bible.

Paul was giving instruction to the church at Philippi and urges the believers to be “not in any way terrified by your adversaries “. (Phil 1:28)

Not in “ANY WAY (be) terrified”?

Not in ANY way? How about just a “little way” be terrified?

The word “terrified” here is a strong term likened to the terror of a panicked horse.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve felt like a panicked horse before. Maybe I didn’t show it on the outside, but my stomach has felt like a horse frantically jumping and reacting to bad news.

But, God’s children are to have no fear of bad news! And if you’ve watched the news lately you know there is a lot of bad news not to fear!

But, the Psalmist said, “For the righteous will never be moved;
he will be remembered forever.
He is not afraid of bad news;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,
until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.” (Psalm 112:6-8)

But how do we possibly find that calm steadiness in the midst of our scary world this Monday morning?

I think we have to train ourselves to pause.

We take the time to breathe in truth and let the truth of God, through the Holy Spirit, do it’s work in us.

Remember the Apostle Paul told us, “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” Rom 8:6

Think of this as pausing to deliberately turn an imaginary dial to “life and peace” rather than to “death”.

Life and peace come as we daily, sometimes moment by moment, lean into God, our refuge and our strength—

For “God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Come, behold the works of the LORD,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:1-11)

Did you pause? Did you read that slow and take it in? If not, perhaps, read it again?

For as we pause, as we pray, as we breathe in truth, we allow the Holy Spirit to remind us that, The King of the Universe is with us, we can be still, and we can know, once more, He has us.

Friend, this is the way we do not fear trouble, toil, and death in this day.

This is the way we experience life and peace and exhibit a faith that draws others to our Lord.

May you experience life and peace in this day from the One who holds us close and has our every tomorrow.

kimjaggers.com